Tuned Stairs is an installation that turns stairs into a playful musical experience. As visitors walk down the stairs leading to the exhibition, their footfalls activate a musical sound. The intention is to remind visitors about the importance of the simplest actions and experiences we take for granted.

Half of each step is covered in a floor sensor matt (leaving the part of the stair for non-participants). Once stepped on, this switch is sent to an Arduino board, which in turn triggers a solenoid hammer, striking a metal resonating bar. Each bar is tuned to produce a different tone. This page shows early prototypes using a cowbell and wooden moving arm.

Why do I blog this? I really like projects that turn everyday transient spaces into playgrounds. Rather than use floor sensors to trigger computer sound samples, they are using real physical objects to produce sound.